Briquet-machine.



G. KOMAREK.

BRIQUET MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IuNE 30'l I9I4.

1,164,822. I Patented Dee. 21, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0..'WA5HINI:TON. D. c.

. G. KOMAREK.

BRIQUET MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 30. 1914.

1,164,822. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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G. KOMAREK.

BRIQUET MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IIINE 30. 1914.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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G. KOIVIAREK.

BRIQUET MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED :UNE 30, 1914.

1,164,822. Patented De@.21,1915.

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G. KOMAREK.

BRIQUET MACHINE. APPLlcAloN FILED JUNE a0, 1914.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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GUSTAV KOMAREK, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSQURI, ASSIGiNORl TO ST. LOUIS BRIQUETTE MACHINE COMPANY, 0F STQLQUIS, MISSOURI, A CQRPORATION OF MISSOURI.

BRIQUET-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters IPatent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Appneetion ined June so, 1911i. ,Serial No. 848,141.

To all whom t may concern: y

Be it known that I, GUs'rAv KOMAREK, a citizen of the United States, residing at'St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Briquet- .Machines, of which the following is ka full,

clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which,-

Figure 1 is a plan View of a briquet machine of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine, with parts broken away and in section, in order to more clearly illustrate the construction of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on line E-S of Fig. 1. Fig. l is a horizontal section taken approximately on line lf-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken approximately on line 5-5 offFig. il. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively sideand vend elevational views of a briquet manufactured with my improved machine. Fig. 8 isan enlarged vertical section taken approximately on line 8-8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken approximately on line 9 49 of F ig. S. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a portion of one of the lspacing members utilized between the mold cavities in my improved machine. Fig. 11 is zin-elevational view of the upper end of the spacing member.

My invention relates tothat class of machines in which pulverized combustiblematerial in plastic condition is compressed between revolving cylinders or drums to form fuel briquets.

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide a comparatively simple, economically operated machine, which can be operated continuously to produce, within a given length of time, a comparatively large tonnage of briquets; further, to provide means whereby the briquets are subjected to a comparatively high degree of pressure, thereby producing briquets having uniform density; to provide a machine having sectional mold rings, which permits the ready removal of any mold ring section in case the same becomes worn or unfit for service; to provide means whereby the mold carrying drums move uniformly and correspondingly toward and away from each other, thereby maintaining perfect alinement of the mold cavities or pockets; to provide simple and positive means for feeding the plastic material into the mold cavities and to combine with the sectional mold rings stationary spacing members which form walls between the mold cavities, and which spacing members arefprovi'ded with hardened metal liners or wear plates arranged adjacent to the point of application of greatest pressure to the briquets, which liners or wear plates-can be readily removed in case they become worn or broken in service. f

V'Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the framey of my improved machine comprises base members 1 and 2, upon which is positioned a pair of hollow side frames 3, the same being preferably cast and provided with centrally arranged upwardly projecting portions 3a.

Arranged at orv near the center of each side frame 3, is a pair ofv transversely disposed hollow shafts ll, the ends-thereof being rigidly seated in the side walls of the side frames, and y mounted for rotation within these pairs ofhollow 'shafts are solid shafts 5 and 6, the same extending through and a substantial distance beyond said hollow shafts.

Loosely mounted on the hollow shafts 4 are the lower ends of outwardly and upwardly projecting arms 7 which near their central portions are provided with bearings 8 forl the trunnions 9 on the ends of the molding 'drums of the machine.

Fixed on the outer ends of the trunnions 9 arecomparatively large gear wheels 10, and meshing therewith are pairs of meshing pinions 11, the same being rigidlyk fixed on the outer portions' of shafts 5and 6.

Fixed on one end of shaft 6, is a large gear wheel 12 and meshing therewith is a driving pinion 13, the same being fixed on a driving shaft la which latter is journaled in suitable bearings in the side frames 3. By virtue of the construction just described, it will benoted that when driving` .shaft 14- is operated, motionV will be transmitted through pinion land gear Wheel 12,-'-

' lto shaft G, vand the motion of the latter will be transmitted to shaft 5 through the meshing pairs of pinions 11. Simultaneously, the molding .drums of the machine will be uniformly driven toward each other by the engagementy of the pinions 11 with the gear y wheels. 10. Inasmuch asthe arms 7 fulcrum upon the shafts 5 and 6, the drums 'carried by said arms will move uniformlytoward and away from each other without in any Way affecting vor disturbing-the relation of the pinions 11 to the vdrum drivinggears 10. The upper ends of thepcorresponding pairs of arms 7 are rigidly'connected by transversely extending bars 15, and thusl the `pair f of arms for each drum will act uniformly.

- ing joint which is eifective 'when there is an v Extending through the upper ends of the arms 7 at the sides of thev machine are heavy rods 16 and arranged thereupon, out-A side the Lipper endsof the arms, arefinner and outer plates 17 and 18 which serve as supports for nests of comparatively heavy compression springs 19.

outer facesof the upper portion of the arms 7 and in horizontal alinement with the rods,

16 are* bearings 20 in which are located rollers 21, the same having bearings 22 on the corresponding 'faces of the inner plates 17. These rollers' 21 serve to form a yieldappreciable amount ofmovement between the upper ends ofthe arms and the nests of springs. l Y

Formed lon the inner faces of the arms 7 and at points near the :bearings 8 thereofi are vstop lugs v23 which are adapted toengage brackets or lugs .24. on the extensions 3a of thev frames 3, thus limiting the movement ofthe arms7l toward each other, which lim iting movement prevents the faces ofjthe distances mold lrings carried lby the drums from bearing against and grinding uponeach other during operation.

The drums of my improved machine comf prise cylindrical bodies 25 which are `preferably formed integral with the trunnions 9 and extending inwardly from saidcylindrical body portions are radially disposed webs 26. The ends ofthe bodyportions 25 and Y 29 which are under-cut or dove-tailed in cross section.

The moldrings carried by the drums are-A made vin arcuate sections 30 of hardened metal which are formed so as to fit snugly' against thek peripheries ofthe drums, fand Formed on the circumferentially disposed vformed integral with and* projecting rearwardly frointhese sections are ribs 31 which fit snugly within the circumferential groovesl 28. These ribsv 31 are substantially narrower than the-.ring sections,v and thereforethe f main body'portions of said sections have a substantial bearing on the periphery of the drum at both'sidesof the grooves therein.

Formed kthrough thev ribs 31 are' trans-V versely alined openings k32`Which are of the' same shape and are adapted to coincide with,`

the transversely disposed grooves 29, and vpositioned, in these grooves 29 and openings 32 arelretaining bars-3 3, which serve to rigidly maintainthemold ring sections in Proper position onl the drumsv These re-f taining bars are preferably made in sec- 'i tions inorder that they can be inserted from 'l both sidesnof the drums,r and the outer endsI of the sections fo'rming'each retaining bar are preferably threadedas designated by 84,

in order to be engaged by' a suitable'v tool 'L i when it becomes necessary to 'withdraw said bar for the purpose of replacing aworn or kbroken mold ring section.` lhese thread-y ed ends 34k are normally closed by caps 35 which prevent the threads fromV becoming battered during the operationvv 'of the -ina chine.' L l The outer face of each moldring section is provided with one or more rows of mold cavities 36, which may bettermed comple-` mentary cavities in that vthe cavities on each ring cooperate with'the cavities on the oppositely `disposed ring in complementary fashion to form substantially cylindrical ,pockets in whichvthe briquets are formed and compressed.

Formed inithejperipheries of the vmold rings between the mold cavities therein are cii'cumferentially disposedgi'ooves 37 which receive stationary spacing' ymembers, l`the same being 'arranged'zbetween the two drums, Vas hereinafter more fully described.

Fixedl on top of the upper extensions 3"- of the side frames is a hopper 38 in wliichf is placed the plastic material of which the briquets arejfornied.' The lowerends' of the end walls ofy thisv hopper are bentlinwardly charge opening L10 which is 'immediatelyl as designated by 39 to forma throator dis-v il* above the meeting linenofthe mold rings carried by the drums. Positioned beneath f these inwardly bent end walls are sliding plates Vl1 which are adjustable and lserve the purpose of gates which may be readily" shifted to regulate the 'feed' of the plastic" material into the mold cavities.

Transversely. positionedin the lower ,por-

tion of the hopper 38 and journaled in the side wall'sthereof lis a pair of shafts 42 and y n 43'and'fixed thereon within the hopper are i stirring arms 44, Mounted onthese shafts 'immediately adjacent. Ato the Sidek Walls of`v i the hopper are blades 45." As 'the shafts 42 and 43 are operated, the arms 44 stir and agitate the material in the lower portion of the hopper and the blades 45 act as scrapers to remove the plastic material from the end walls of the hopper. Shaft 42 is operated by means of a sprocket chain 46 which operates upon a sprocket wheel 47 on the outer end of shaft 5, and upon `a sprocket wheel 48 which is fixed on the shaft 42. Rotary motion is transmitted from shaft 42 to shaft 43 by means of meshing pinions 49 which are mounted upon said shafts outside the hopper.

Arranged in the extreme lower end of the hopper and below the mouth 40 thereof is a transversely disposed shaft 50 which carries a series of short stirringv arms 51, and as said shaft 50 is rotated, these arms stir the mass of plastic material and evenly distribute the same into the mold cavities immediately beneath. This shaft is driven by means of a belt 52, which operates upon a pulley 53 which is fixed on the outer end of shaft 50 and upon a pulley 54 which is xed upon the corresponding end of shaft 42.

The stationary spacing members which provide end walls for the mold cavities are each formed in two main parts, an upper Y-shaped member 55, the arms of which fit snugly in an oppcsitely disposed pair of the grooves 37 immediately beneath the sliding plates 4l. The lo-wer end of this upper member terminates at a point slightly above a horizontal plane occupied by the centers of the main drums of the machine, and positioned immediately below each upper member is a straight vertically disposed lower member 56, the edges of the upper portion of which occupy a corresponding pair of the grooves 37. The lower ends of all of the lower members 56 rest upon a transversely disposed bar 57, the ends of which are removably positioned in the inner walls of the side frames 3. The upper portions of the side faces of these lower members 56 serve as end walls for the mold cavities formed by themating recesses 36, and removably positioned in the upper portions of the side faces are hardened metal liners or wear plates 5S. The portions of the lower spacing members 56 immediately below the portions which carry the liners or wear plates are slightly reduced in thickness as designated by 56a, thus permitting the compressed briquets to readily discharge from the mold cavities after the same have been subjected to high pressure during which latter action the ends of the briquets within the cavities are bearing against the hardened metal liners or wear plates. The spaces between the lower ends of the upper members 55 and immediately below the shaft 50 and its stirring arms, form a series of secondary hoppers, one for each corresponding series of mold cavities, and lthe plastic material is thus practically confined during its passage into the annular rows of mold cavities, and consequently an equal distribution of said material is insured. The webs between the lower portions of the Y-shaped members 55 prevent the material from moving laterally during its downward feeding movement into the matingpairs of cavities.

By my improved arrangement of spacing members and mold rings, each ring with its adjacent spacers forms a complete and independent unit, and as the force of compression acts against both sides of the stationary spacing members with the same force, the eiiect is neutralized throughout all of said spacers, with the exception of the two outside members, which latter bear against suitable thrust blocks positioned against the inner face of the side frames 3.

Immediately after the high compression has been imparted to the briquets, the mold cavities commence to separate, and at this time they bear downward on the compressed briquets as the latter kreach the narrowed portions of the lower members 56, at which point said briquets are free to drop by force of gravity.

The advantage gained by making the spacing members in two parts is, that the lower parts carrying the liners or wear plates can readily be removed for the purpose of inserting new liners or wear plates without disturbing the upper portions of the spacing members.

ln the operation of my improved machine, the main driving shaft 14 is operated, and through the driving connections as hereinbefore described, the two drums carrying the mold rings are driven toward each other at the same speed. Simultaneously the shafts 42, 43 and 50 carrying thel stirring and feeding arms are rotated and the plastic material in the lower portion of the hopper is continuously agitated and caused to discharge downward through the mouth 40 from whence said materialis uniformly delivered into the chambers between the upper portions 55 of the stationary spacing members. The plastic material fills the mating mold cavities46 and as said mating cavities pass the horizontal center of the drums, said material within said cavities is highly compressed into briquet form. The stationary spacers close the ends of the mold cavities, and while under compression, the ends of the briquets rub against the liners or wear plates 58, which latter prevent the escape of the compressed material from the ends of the mold cavities. Such construction causes the material within the cavities to be compressed at the sides as well as on the circumferential surface, and as a result, the briquets have uniform density. The stationary spacers between the mold rings are' instrumental in effecting a proper discharge of the molded briquets, for it will be understood that after passing the horizontal center line of the drums,'the mold cavities commence to separate or move apart simultaneous with their downward movement,I

but during such movement, lthe ends of the briquets frictionally engage the lower portionof theliners or wear plates 58, and by .adhesion they are maintained in proper position until they reach the narrowed portions 56a of thel lower members 56. Thus the compressed briquets will be carried straight' downward instead of following a curved path of travel, suchas is taken'by the down`y wardly moving mold cavities.

. any outward movement ofthe upper ends of the arms 7, and incase said arms do swing apart lwhen predetermined pressure is exceeded, then said `armswill swing about the shafts 6as` aXes,during which time the relation. between they `pinions l1 and gear wheels 10 is in no wise affected. Likewise the proper relation or almement of the pairs of mold cavities is in no wise affected, for.

it will be understood that the outward swinging movement of the arms 7 will in all instances be uniform. i f l By my improvedconstruction, therdrum 'carrying arms act correspondingly andsynchronously, land regardless of their movei ment,kthe alineinent of the working or yieldy ing parts will not be affected. u

Janother material advantage of my iniproved construction is that the mold rings can readily be repaired when a section be comes worn or broken, and the drums carry ing the mold rings can be easily brought together` to compensate for the decreased out'- side diameter ofthe repaired mold rings without disturbing any other member. During operation, the'outer faces of the mold rings on one drum barely engage-the correspendingk rings on the opposite drum without pressure, thus lobviating any tendency of the faces of the rings to wear during operation. i l

A briquet machine of my improved construction is comparatively simple, can be operated with comparatively littlepower, produces solid briquets having uniform density, and is particularly adaptedv for producing, within a given length of time, a coinparatively large tonnage of briquets. ,y

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improvedma,- chine can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit-of my invention, the

scope of which isset forth in the appended pair of arms having theirlower ends looselyv mounted on each sleeve,` the upper ends of,v the arms of, each pairbeing rigidlyVA con nected, a molding drinn journaled iiieach pair offarms, gearwhee'ls' carried by said drums, and meshing ipinions vfixed on the pair of shafts, which pinions engage` with the gear wheels carried by' said drums 2. In a machine of the class described,

a frame, a pair ofrv shafts journaledV therein, sleeves loosely Vmounted on said ends loosely.mountedlon each' sleeve`, the upper ends of the arms of each pair lbeing rigidly connected,a molding drum Journaled in each pair of arms, gear. wheels carriedby said drums, meshing pinions .fiXed'on the pair of` shafts, `which pinionsl engage with pair of arms having theirlower ends loosely mounted on each sleeve, the upper ends of the arms `of each pair being 'rigidly conpair of arms, gear wheels carried by said drums, meshing pinions fixed on the pair of shafts, which pinionsvv engage :with the gear wheels 'carried by said drums, yielding pres# sure means coperating with said pairs ofk arms to resist spreading movement, and

stops on the frame for `limitingthe mov`e;

ment of the arms toward each other.

4. In ka briquet machine, a frame, a pairy of shafts Journaled therein, sleeves loosely' vshafts, .a pair of arms .having their lower the gear wheels carried by said drums, yand yielding pressure means coperating with said pairs of arms to resist spreading move ment. f f In a machineof the class described, a frame, a pair of shafts journaled therein,` sleeves loosely mounted on said shafts, `a

- icc 7 iiected, a'molding drum journaled in each' f ll O mounted on said shafts, va pair.' of substan tially inverted Ufshaped frames, the'lowerV ends of the klegs of which are looselymounted on said sleeves, molding drums having triinnions at each fend, which are journaled in the legs of the inverted U-shaped frames,`

gear wheels fixed on said trunnions, and

vpairs of meshing pinions'xed'on the pairl of shafts and meshing *respectively with said gear wheels. y

5. lin a briquet machine, a frame,'.a pair of shafts journaled therein, sleeves loosely; mounted on said shafts, a pairof substantially inverted U-shaped .frameafthe lower ends of the legs of which are loosely mounted en said sleeves, molding drums having .trunnions at each. end, which are journaled in the legs ofthe inverted .U-shaped'frames, y130 gear wheels fixedl on said trunnions, pairs' of -trunnions at each endl which are journaled in the legs of the inverted U-shaped frames, gear wheels fixed on the pair of shafts and meshing respectively with said gear wheels, yielding pressure means coperating with the upper portions of said inverted U-shaped frames to resist their spreading movement,

and stops on the yframe for limiting the movement of the inverted U-shaped frames toward each other.

, 7. In a briquet machine, a frame, a pair of shafts journaled therein, sleeves loosely mounted on said shafts, a pair of substantially inverted U-shaped frames, the lower ends of the legs of which are loosely mounted on said sleeves, molding drums having trunnions at each end which are journaled in the legs of the inverted U-sh'aped frames, gear wheels fixed on the pair of shafts and meshing respectively with said gear wheels, yielding pressure means cooperating vwith the upper portions of said inverted U-shaped frames to resist their spreading movement, stops on the frame for limiting the movement of the inverted U-shaped frames toward each other, and a feed hopper carried by the frame above said molding drums.

8. In a briquet machine, a pair of rotatably mounted molding drums provided in their faces with rows of complementary mold cavities and with circumferentially disposed grooves between said rows of mold cavities, a feed hopper arranged above said drums, and a series of Y-shaped spacing members positioned between the mouth of said hopper and said molding drums, the

ylower portions of which spacing members occupy the grooves in said drums.

9. In a briquet machine, a palr of rotatably mounted molding drums provided in their faces with rows of complementary mold cavities and with circumferentially disposed grooves between said rows of mold cavities, a feed hopper arranged above said drums, and a series of Y-shaped spacing members positioned between the mouth of said hopper and said molding` drums, the lower portions of which spacing members are separate from the upper portions, and said separate lower portions being provided in their side faces with detachable wear resisting plates.

10. In a machine of the class described, a

pair of drums mounted for movement toward and away from each other, yielding pressure means for resisting the movement of said drums away from each other, means whereby said drums are uniformly and correspondingly rotated, a series of sectional mold rings removably positioned on each of said drums, and provided with mold cavities, and a series of stationary spacing members positioned between the mold rings in position to act as end walls for the cavities therein.

11. In a machine of the class described, a pair of coperating revoluble drums, rings positioned on the peripheries of said drums, which rings are provided with mold cavities and with circumferentially disposed grooves between said cavities, and stationary spacing members positioned between said drums and in the circumferential grooves in the mold rings which spacing members form end walls for the mold cavities.

12. In a machine of the class described, a pair of drums, rings positioned on the peripheries of said drums, which rings are provided with mold lcavities and with circumferentially disposed grooves between said cavities, stationary spacing members positioned between said drums and in the circumferential grooves in the mold rings, and removable wear plates carried by the side faces of said spacing members which latter serve as end walls for the mold cavities. v

13. In a machine of the class described, a pair of drums, rings positioned on the peripheries of said drums, there being mold cavities formed in the faces of said rings, and spacing members arranged between the drums and the rings thereon to form end walls for the mold cavities in said rings.

lat. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of drums having mold cavities in their peripheries and with circumferential grooves between said mold cavities, of stationary spacing members arranged between said drums and fitting into the circumferential grooves.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of drums having mold cavities in their peripheries and with circumferential grooves between said mold cavities, of stationary spacing members arranged between said drums and tting into'the circumferential grooves, and wear plates carried by said spacing members in alinement with the horizontal center of the drums.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of drums having mold cavities in their peripheries and with circumferential grooves between said mold cavities, of stationary spacing members arranged between said drums and fitting in the circumferential grooves, and a support below the aXes` of the drums for ing mold cavities intheir peripheriesl and with circumferential grooves between said mold cavities, of stationary spacing niembers arranged between'said drums and fitting into the circumferential grooves, weail plates carried by said vspacing members in alinement with the horizontal centers oi' the drums, and the lowerends of which spacing l members below the wear platesare narrower than the upper portions.

18. In a machine o'the class described, a pair of drums mountedi'or` rotation, vsectional mold rings detachably positioned on `the peripheries of said drums, which lmold rings are provided in their outer faces withv mold cavities andcircuniferentially disposed grooves, lthe latter being arranged between the mold' cavities, and substantially Y- shaped spacing members positioned between said drums and occupying the circumferentially disposed grooves in the mold rings.-

19.. ln a machiiieoif the class described, a pair of drums mounted for rotation, sectional inold rings detachably positioned on the peripheries of said driiins,`which mold rings are provided in their outer faces with mold cavities and circumferentially disposed grooves, then latter being arranged between the mold cavities, substantially Y-shaped spacing members positioned between said drums and occupying the circumferentially l this 12thk day of disposed grooves in the mold rings, and reare in immediatek coincidence `with each a.

other. q

20.111 a machine of the class described,

drums, .which mold rings are provided in their outer faces withy mold cavities, afhopper arranged above the drums, and a series of stationary spacing members vpositioned betweenthe drums yand below the hopper for guiding the. plastic materialv into the mold cavities.`

21. In'L a machine of thel class described, a

lpair of rotatably mounted-drums having :a pair of rotatably mounted/drums, mold i vrings arranged onthe peripheries of'said complementary mold-"cavities formedv in 'i their periplieries and with circumferentially f f disposed grooves between said vmold cavities,

a series of'Yshaped spacing y.members ar- 'ranged between saidy ldrunis,'tlie lower poi'- `tions ofrwhich members are separate from the upper portions, and a transversely` dis# posed fixed member iorminga supportfor the separatelower portions of said-spacing l members...y f e e e .l

In testimony whereofl hereunto lattx my signature in the presence of two Witnesses,

`June, 1914. a

l Y GUSTAV -KOMARIGI f Witnesses: y i Y' M. P. SMITH, lM. HANDEL;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for've cents each, by 'addressing thefommssioner of Patents,

' Washington, 1)..C. l v e 

